Intro:

CSKA Moscow took a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five play-off series against Panathinaikos Athens and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan levelled their tie 1-1 against Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv on Friday.

Script:

He's quite right to be happy, CSKA are on the brink of reaching the Euroleague play-off semi-finals after taking a 2-0 lead in their best of five series with Panathinaikos.

Sonny Weems top-scored for them with 23 points in their 77-51 win against the Greek side.

Credit too has to go to Moscow's defence as this was Panathinaikos lowest ever score in a Euroleague match.

Like CSKA Maccabi Tel Aviv scored 77 points but that was nowhere near enough to beat Milan. Their cause was not helped in the first quarter when they lost Sofoklis Schortsanitis through injury.

The Israeli side went into this match one-up from the first game of the series but shooting like this from Kristjan Kangur... and this from Keith Langford meant Milan were just too strong here.

The top scorer for the Italian side was Curtis Jerrells with 17 in the 91-77 win, this series is nicely poised.